[regularmember]

With the rumors of an "international" Ridgeline as well as a "work truck" trim - it makes a lot of sense that the new Ridgeline will offer a smaller displacement, less powerful motor. My understanding of international markets is that they typically have restrictions/taxes/limitations on how big engines can be. That's a vast generalization but I don't see a 3.5L V6 making much sense overseas. Also

Also - with how much weight the Ridgeline is set to lose a less powerful motor actually starts to make sense as well. A 2016 Pilot LX AWD is 277 lbs lighter than a 2015 Pilot LX AWD. Joe has said the weight loss will be around 300 lbs.

That puts an AWD base Ridgeline at ~4200 lbs. Now what about a smaller motor?

In the Accord the I4 version weighs 188 lbs less than the V6 version (though some of that is transmission related as the 6AT is heavier too than the CVT) - I think 100-150 lbs of difference is more likely.

But would Honda pair an inline 4 cylinder with AWD in a 4,050-4,100 lb Crew Cab Truck? I don't know honestly. The heaviest Colorado 2.5L AWD weighs 4,140 lbs for comparisons sake.

But Honda's K24 isn't quite as torquey as the 2.5L in the Colorado - Honda could mitigate that somewhat by transmission choice - the 10AT has a very high first gear for instance.

Or the AWD system adds 166 lbs to the Pilot - and a "work truck" might not need AWD really.

So could we potentially have a ~3900 lb, FWD, K24 (200 hp, 182 lb-ft), crew cab "work truck"...?

Getting really crazy - would Honda drop the 1.5T in the Ridge for international applications? It's got more torque and even less displacement.

The 2.0T makes a lot of sense for international applications - but it doesn't really fit the "work truck" rumors in some ways due to cost - the cost will come down once it starts mass production obviously but then you have the marketing problem of your CTR sharing the same engine with a truck.

Anyways - just thinking aloud. We will know more soon enough I guess.

 

[25 Year Honda Owner]

Food for thought; come to think of it the I-4 in our 2014 CT has direct injection and dual exhaust. With the RL shedding a few pounds this could be an option. Never thought about it; I would be interested. I have had 15 I-4 Hondas since 1981; the '81 was extremely weak but got progressively stronger as the years went by. Very pleased with the I-4 in our CT.

 

[longboat]

The I4 would work in combination with hybrid electric drive, which is probably where the RL2 will be in a couple years (if that is not the NAIAS surprise). The true truck guys will hate it, even if it outpulls the V6 outfits.

 

[northernlights]

Good gosh is this what Honda is reading. It keeps gettin down sized in the truck world more and more. I hope they install a set of pedals in it to for your trip to the mall that way you can stay in shape, loose weight, save money and live forever. Just build another truck Honda.

 

[25 Year Honda Owner]

The I4 would work in combination with hybrid electric drive, which is probably where the RL2 will be in a couple years (if that is not the NAIAS surprise). The true truck guys will hate it, even if it outpulls the V6 outfits.

The RL is 750 lbs heavier than my 4 CYL Crosstour. The V-6 is 200 lbs heavier than the 4-CYL. Honda is shaving some weight off the GEN ll, how much I do not know. A remote possibility that Honda could consider a 4 CYL RL.

 

[Dnick]

Good gosh is this what Honda is reading. It keeps gettin down sized in the truck world more and more. I hope they install a set of pedals in it to for your trip to the mall that way you can stay in shape, loose weight, save money and live forever. Just build another truck Honda.

I know you want "more" truck, but why would you be opposed to Honda offering both choices (a "more" truck and a "less" truck) with alternate drive-train & cab configurations the OP is proposing, so as to satisfy others as well as yourself??? Can't figure that one out.

 

[northernlights]

I would like to see another truck but think Honda would go the other way and I could see them puttin in a 4cyl.

 

[RTLGATOR]

Food for thought; come to think of it the I-4 in our 2014 CT has direct injection and dual exhaust. With the RL shedding a few pounds this could be an option. Never thought about it; I would be interested. I have had 15 I-4 Hondas since 1981; the '81 was extremely weak but got progressively stronger as the years went by. Very pleased with the I-4 in our CT.

Yes, I have the same engine in my 2012 CT, it seems to have plenty of low end get up and go, not sure about the torque but I think it's a bit quicker than my RL....took the CT on a trip to North Georgia mountains and got 27 mpg overall...

 

[25 Year Honda Owner]

Yes, I have the same engine in my 2012 CT, it seems to have plenty of low end get up and go, not sure about the torque but I think it's a bit quicker than my RL....took the CT on a trip to North Georgia mountains and got 27 mpg overall...

I also get great MPG on my CT. Previously had 12 Accords and 2 CR-V's; have no idea what Honda does to the I-4 in the CT, so much more power. Sad they are discontinuing the CT. Other than the RL, the best Honda I have had.

 

[RTLGATOR]

I also get great MPG on my CT. Previously had 12 Accords and 2 CR-V's; have no idea what Honda does to the I-4 in the CT, so much more power. Sad they are discontinuing the CT. Other than the RL, the best Honda I have had.

I can agree that my RL has been the best and the CT seems to be as good but have had much success with 07 6cyl accord ( this one only had for several years ) and my 94 civic coupe that was a great little car, had it until it was stolen in 2004 and found stripped. I also have 03 s2000 ( garage queen ) that is fun to drive and no problems with 72,000 on clock..... I guess Honda has me hooked...

 

[25 Year Honda Owner]

I can agree that my RL has been the best and the CT seems to be as good but have had much success with 07 6cyl accord ( this one only had for several years ) and my 94 civic coupe that was a great little car, had it until it was stolen in 2004 and found stripped. I also have 03 s2000 ( garage queen ) that is fun to drive and no problems with 72,000 on clock..... I guess Honda has me hooked...

2 major regrets in my life, not buying a Prelude and a S2000.

 

[Kyle]

Their international offering would probably be a 2-2.5L diesel. No one buys a gas engine truck anywhere but the USA and it's affiliates. Went to my local dealer recently and there was not one vehicle with the 3.5L engine in it. They also had never seen a RL.

 

[FTM1]

Their international offering would probably be a 2-2.5L diesel. No one buys a gas engine truck anywhere but the USA and it's affiliates. Went to my local dealer recently and there was not one vehicle with the 3.5L engine in it. They also had never seen a RL.

Did they ever see an Acura MDX or Honda Pilot? They are related vehicles.

 

[phillyguy]

If anything we would see Honda put a hybrid system in the Ridgeline in their quest for better and better fuel efficiency. While this *could* be done in a highly functional way that would add both fuel economy and capability, I suspect any implementation Honda would use would just turn out to be a joke.

 

[Dnick]

Did they ever see an Acura MDX or Honda Pilot? They are related vehicles.

.......but these are both only made in US (Alabama), correct?? I was thinking we don't really export too many vehicles beyond North America. Am I wrong with that?

 

[Kyle]

Did they ever see an Acura MDX or Honda Pilot? They are related vehicles.

The only Pilots or MDX'S I see are Americans stationed here. The dealer was really proud of their huge brand new CRV. Even those are few and far between. Lots of hatchback civics though.

 

[regularmember]

Their international offering would probably be a 2-2.5L diesel. No one buys a gas engine truck anywhere but the USA and it's affiliates. Went to my local dealer recently and there was not one vehicle with the 3.5L engine in it. They also had never seen a RL.

It would have to be an all-new diesel as the 2.2L diesel is old and was basically replaced by the 1.6L diesel - in the Euro CRV it gets 158 hp and 258 lb-ft. Which probably isn't strong enough but represents pretty strong per-liter numbers.

I don't know enough about the design of the 1.6L diesel - could they bore it out to 1.8L and still get it to work right? Extrapolating the numbers you could have 175 hp and 290 lb-ft which would be about enough for a Ridgeline I think. A 2.0L would be even better (190 hp and 320 lb-ft) but with Honda cancelling the Accord in Europe where else would the bigger diesel go? Unless they can bore and stroke out the engine I guess - my point is that I think Honda would want the packaging to be close to the same to both save money and increase the ease at which it fit into other applications. I don't think they'd build an all-new Diesel engine lineup just for this application - especially as Honda came out a while ago and said they'd have to sell only hybrids in China by 2025.